US pop icon Madonna performs on stage during her first ever concert in the Gulf as part of her MDNA world tour at Abu Dhabi's Yas Island Stadium on June 3, 2012. An estimated 25,000 fans cheered and screamed as the Material Girl finally appeared on stage more than two hours late, wearing a skin-tight black outfit from her "Girl Gone Wild" album. (MARWAN NAAMANI/AFP/GettyImages)

More than 20,000 fans waited in the warm weather for almost two hours before the 'Queen of Pop' Madonna kicked off her concert in Abu Dhabi last week, but her controversial performance is still echoing throughout the region today.

Coming from Tel Aviv in Israel, where she debuted her world tour last week, Madonna opened her Abu Dhabi gig with a series of religious, sexual and violent acts that left fans in both countries both mesmerized and shocked.

Madonna opened her first act in Abu Dhabi with religious chants, and featured a huge cross on stage which was later cut in half. In a later scene, Madonna carried an AK-47 and used it – mockingly – to kill a few of the dancers on stage. She then proceeded to strip her clothes, albeit partially, leaving some fans with their jaws dropped in surprise.

It wasn't just in the UAE.

In Israel, a monitor behind Madonna's performance displayed an image of a female French politician with a swastika on her forehead. According to Haaretz Newspaper, the French politician is threatening to sue Madonna if the pop icon uses the image in any upcoming concerts in France.

Here's some more reaction on Twitter from Madonna's Mideast performances:

As a local and Abu Dhabi resident, this concert was definitely the best gig ever in the UAE. She might have offended "some" of the audience, but you shouldn't have attended a Madonna's concert in the first place if you don't know her and her music/background.

Other than that, even though it was really hot, and we were pissed off by the fact that her Madgesty appeared really late, but the second we heard the drums and the music from Girl Gone Wild, we forgot all about it.

Onikami

June 17th, 2012 3:18 am ET

madonna gets critisized in the usa. is this really worthy of a story even? ooohhh, aaahhh madonnadoes something outragous, so 80's!

Sara

June 19th, 2012 10:56 pm ET

And they are shocked because??????

Desert Prince 07

June 22nd, 2012 1:50 pm ET

She performed as told by her higher directors – the illuminati – the masons and Her other demon worshiping fellows
The aim was to influence the people with poison and Hedin demonic rituals within her songs /lyrics
And she did it well as always! And thou I did like her songs during the 80’s and 90’s but now since I know her back ground of being the slave of cults and demons “ I hate the old hag “ more than you think
Excuse me of I offended anyone on this page /fans but this is my point of view

music is trash so she does borat on steroids to keep her paycheck going

ibra

June 24th, 2012 3:27 pm ET

i call it nudity campaign, let her dare visit iran

ZeroLimit

June 25th, 2012 1:53 pm ET

I always wondered why they cal The Persian Gulf – "The Gulf" when you Arabs decided to become weternised and let Western culture to invade your Persian Gulf states, who do u complain about Maddona. you go overseas and do all the dirty trickes to have a good time. you shoud complain to your leaders who bend against the western powers, so why not complain to the. BY the way I always detest CNN to name the PERSIAN GULF as the Gulf. CNN should know that people deserve the right information on names and locations, or maybe CNN is broadcasting lies as always.

SAS

June 30th, 2012 12:27 am ET

I liked the response of Middle Easterners to Madonna – if she offends you, criticise her and point out her misbehaviour.

But don't go on the rampage and use violence and threats when someone offends you.

Welcome to the Inside the Middle East blog where CNN's journalists post news, views and video from across the region. This is also a place where you can start the discussion so please keep your comments coming. We highlight not only current news stories but also anecdotes and issues that don't always make the top of the headlines.